Page:Early poems of William Morris.djvu/182

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126
Golden Wings

Upright upon the green lawn grass;
And hope grew in her as she said:
"I have thrown off the white and red,
And pray God it may come to pass


"I meet him; if ten years go by
Before I meet him; if, indeed,
Meanwhile both soul and body bleed,
Yet there is end of misery,


"And I have hope. He could not come,
But I can go to him and show
These new things I have got to know,
And make him speak, who has been dumb."


O Jehane! the red morning sun
Changed her white feet to glowing gold,
Upon her smock, on crease and fold,
Changed that to gold which had been dun.


O Miles, and Giles, and Isabeau,
Fair Ellayne le Violet,
Mary, Constance fille de fay!
Where is Jehane du Castel beau?


O big Gervaise ride apace!
Down to the hard yellow sand,
Where the water meets the land,
This is Jehane by her face;


Why has she a broken sword?
Mary! she is slain outright;
Verily a piteous sight;
Take her up without a word!